A Practical Guide to Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
Advance healthcare directives and living wills are essential documents for anyone who wants to make their medical preferences clear ahead of time. At Jay Johnson Law Firm, serving Dresden and the surrounding areas in Tennessee, we help people understand how these documents work, who should be named to make decisions, and how to make their wishes legally enforceable. Proper planning reduces stress for family members, helps medical providers follow your preferences, and preserves your dignity in the event you cannot speak for yourself. We focus on clear explanations and reliable document drafting that aligns with Tennessee law.
Beginning the conversation about end-of-life care and health decisions can feel difficult, but having written directives brings clarity and peace of mind. An advance healthcare directive and a living will record your choices about treatments, resuscitation, and comfort care in situations where you cannot communicate. These instruments also allow you to designate a trusted person to act on your behalf. In Dresden and across Tennessee, proper documentation and periodic review are important to ensure the directives reflect current wishes and comply with state requirements, helping loved ones and providers act confidently when needed.
Why Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills Matter
Creating advance healthcare directives and a living will helps ensure your medical care aligns with your personal values and goals. These documents reduce uncertainty for family members, minimize disputes among loved ones, and provide clear instructions to clinicians regarding life-sustaining treatment, pain management, and palliative options. For residents of Dresden and the wider Tennessee area, an up-to-date directive also supports smoother interactions with hospitals and long-term care facilities. Having legal documents in place can spare families difficult decisions during emotional times and protect your right to control the care you receive.
About Jay Johnson Law Firm and Our Approach to Planning
Jay Johnson Law Firm, based in Hendersonville and serving Dresden and surrounding communities in Tennessee, focuses on client-centered estate planning and probate services. Our team emphasizes careful listening, step-by-step guidance, and thorough document preparation so each client’s health care preferences are clearly recorded. We help individuals and families understand the legal options available for advance directives, durable powers of attorney for health care, and living wills. Our approach is practical and grounded in Tennessee law, ensuring documents are enforceable while reflecting each person’s priorities and values.
Understanding Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
Advance healthcare directives and living wills serve different but complementary roles in your medical planning. A living will typically addresses specific treatment preferences in situations where you are terminally ill or permanently unconscious, while an advance healthcare directive may include both treatment instructions and the designation of a health care agent to make decisions on your behalf. Understanding these distinctions helps you craft documents that reflect your wishes and work effectively with medical professionals in Tennessee. Clear, legally accurate language can prevent confusion and ensure your directions are followed when they matter most.
Many people find that preparing both a living will and an advance healthcare directive provides the most complete protection. The living will explains the types of care you would or would not want, and the directive identifies who should speak for you and gives them the authority to apply your preferences to unforeseen circumstances. In Dresden and across Tennessee, these documents should be drafted to meet state signature and witness requirements. Periodic review is also important, since personal circumstances, medical advances, and legal standards can change over time.
Key Definitions: Living Wills and Advance Healthcare Directives
A living will is a written statement that details the kinds of medical treatment you want or do not want if you are unable to communicate due to a terminal condition or permanent unconsciousness. An advance healthcare directive often includes a living will component and also names a healthcare agent or proxy who can make decisions consistent with your wishes. Both documents serve to instruct health care providers and loved ones and must meet Tennessee legal formalities. Understanding these definitions helps you choose precise language so your preferences are clear, enforceable, and respected by medical teams and family members.
Key Elements and the Document Preparation Process
Effective advance directives include specific treatment preferences, the identification of a substitute decision-maker, and instructions for how the directive should be interpreted in different medical scenarios. The process of preparing these documents usually involves reviewing medical options, discussing values and goals with family members, drafting state-compliant forms, and completing required signatures and witness attestations. In Tennessee, careful attention to statutory requirements ensures the documents will be recognized by hospitals and care providers. Regular review and updates help to maintain accuracy as circumstances change over time.
Glossary of Important Terms for Healthcare Planning
Knowing the right terms can make advance planning much clearer. In the context of living wills and advance directives, words like health care agent, proxy, durable power of attorney for health care, and terminal condition each have distinct meanings that affect how documents are interpreted. Familiarity with these terms helps you create precise instructions and choose the right person to act on your behalf. We provide plain-language explanations tailored to Tennessee law so clients in Dresden and neighboring communities can make informed decisions without legal jargon getting in the way.
Health Care Agent (Health Care Proxy)
A health care agent, sometimes called a health care proxy, is a person you appoint to make medical decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself. Choosing an agent involves considering trustworthiness, availability, and the agent’s willingness to follow your stated wishes. The agent’s authority usually takes effect when your physician determines you lack capacity to make decisions. In Tennessee documents, the agent’s powers can be broad or limited, depending on the language used, and selecting a backup agent is a prudent step to ensure continuity if the primary agent is unavailable.
Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
A durable power of attorney for health care is a legal instrument that designates an agent to make healthcare decisions on your behalf and remains in effect even if you lose decision-making capacity. Durable powers of attorney should be drafted so the agent clearly understands the extent of decision-making authority and any limits you want to impose. The document may also include instructions for specific treatments or end-of-life care preferences. Properly executed durable powers of attorney are recognized by medical providers across Tennessee and can facilitate prompt, consistent decision-making in urgent situations.
Living Will
A living will is a written document that outlines your preferences for medical treatment if you become terminally ill or permanently unconscious and are unable to communicate. It typically addresses life-sustaining measures such as mechanical ventilation, resuscitation, artificial nutrition and hydration, and pain management. The living will serves as direct guidance for healthcare providers and complements the role of a designated health care agent. Ensuring the living will uses clear, unambiguous language helps to reduce conflicts among family members and medical staff when important decisions must be made.
Terminal Condition and Capacity
A terminal condition generally refers to an illness or injury that is expected to result in death despite available treatment, while capacity relates to a person’s ability to understand information and make informed decisions. Determinations about terminal conditions and capacity are typically made by treating physicians under applicable medical standards. Advance directives often specify when an agent’s authority takes effect based on capacity assessments and outline what constitutes a terminal condition for purposes of implementing treatment preferences. Clear definitions in documents help ensure that directives are applied as intended.
Comparing Limited and Comprehensive Planning Options
When planning healthcare directives, individuals can choose a limited approach that addresses only a few specific issues, or a more comprehensive plan that covers a broader range of situations and names decision-makers. A limited directive may be quicker to prepare and sufficient for persons with straightforward preferences, while a comprehensive plan aims to anticipate a variety of circumstances and reduce ambiguity. For residents of Dresden, Tennessee, the right choice depends on personal values, family dynamics, and medical considerations. We help you evaluate both options to determine which best preserves your wishes and eases the burden on loved ones.
When a Limited Directive May Be Appropriate:
Clear, Narrow Treatment Preferences
A limited approach to an advance directive can be appropriate when your preferences are very specific and unlikely to change, such as a firm decision to decline a particular life-sustaining intervention under any circumstances. If you have a straightforward stance on a few treatments, a concise directive can efficiently communicate your wishes to medical staff and family members. However, even with narrow preferences, thoughtful drafting is necessary to avoid ambiguous language and to include contact information and witness or notarization requirements under Tennessee law so the document will be honored when needed.
Simple Family Dynamics and Clear Agents
When family relationships are uncomplicated and the person chosen to act as decision-maker is available and in agreement with your values, a limited directive may suffice. In such cases, brief but precise instructions combined with an appointed agent can provide adequate direction to health care providers. It is important to ensure the agent understands your wishes and has the authority to act under Tennessee statutes. Even with a simpler plan, periodically confirming that the document remains accessible and up to date helps prevent problems at critical moments.
Why a Comprehensive Planning Strategy Often Provides More Security:
Complex Medical or Family Situations
A comprehensive planning approach is often advisable when medical conditions are complex or family relationships could lead to disagreements about care. Comprehensive documents can provide detailed guidance for numerous scenarios, name alternates for decision-makers, and include instructions for interim or emergency decisions. This level of detail reduces ambiguity and the risk of disputes, helping ensure your preferences govern care decisions even in unforeseen circumstances. For residents of Dresden and Tennessee, taking a thorough approach can minimize legal obstacles and emotional strain at difficult times.
Anticipating Future Changes and Coordination with Other Plans
Comprehensive directives take into account potential changes in health, family, and legal environments, and they coordinate with related estate planning documents such as powers of attorney and durable medical powers. When you expect medical needs to evolve or you have multiple decision-makers and beneficiaries to consider, thorough planning ensures consistency across documents and clarity for all parties. This proactive coordination helps prevent conflicting instructions and supports seamless decision-making by your chosen agent and care providers under Tennessee law.
Benefits of a Comprehensive Advance Healthcare Directive
A comprehensive directive reduces uncertainty by addressing a wider range of medical scenarios and clearly expressing treatment preferences for different stages of illness. It also names primary and alternate decision-makers, specifies conditions under which certain measures should or should not be used, and clarifies preferences for comfort care and pain management. For residents of Dresden and Tennessee, such thorough planning can prevent disagreements among family members and provide medical teams with unambiguous guidance, allowing care to focus on what matters most to you and your loved ones.
Another benefit of a comprehensive approach is its adaptability to future changes in health or personal circumstances. A well-crafted directive includes instructions for review and amendment, which makes it easier to update documents as needs evolve. This forward-looking structure reduces the chance that outdated language will create confusion or require court involvement. Ensuring the directive complies with Tennessee requirements and is readily accessible to healthcare providers and family members strengthens the likelihood that your preferences will be followed when decisions are required.
Greater Clarity for Health Care Providers
Comprehensive directives provide clinicians with clear written instructions about your treatment goals and limits, which helps medical teams make decisions aligned with your values without needing to guess or rely solely on family interpretation. Clarity reduces delays, prevents unnecessary interventions, and supports consistent care across different providers and facilities. For families in Dresden and Tennessee, this clarity also reduces emotional strain during high-stress medical situations because health care professionals can follow documented wishes that leave less room for dispute or confusion.
Reduced Risk of Family Conflict
When directives clearly state treatment preferences and appoint a trusted decision-maker, family members are less likely to disagree about the right course of action. Detailed guidance and named alternates help prevent misunderstandings and diminish the possibility of contested decisions or legal disputes. For residents of Dresden and Tennessee, this peace of mind is often a primary reason to pursue comprehensive planning, since it preserves relationships and allows loved ones to focus on comfort and support rather than conflict when care decisions arise.
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Practical Tips for Advance Healthcare Directives
Communicate Your Wishes Clearly
Talk with family members and the person you plan to appoint as your healthcare agent well before a crisis. Clear conversations about values and treatment preferences ensure your agent understands how to interpret the directive and reduces the chance of conflict later. Put specifics in writing where appropriate, and review your directive with the agent so they know where to find documents and whom to contact. For Tennessee residents, sharing copies with your primary care physician and hospital can make implementation faster and more reliable when decisions are required.
Choose a Reliable Decision-Maker and Backup
Keep Documents Accessible and Updated
Store signed directives in a place where your agent, family, and health care providers can find them quickly. Provide copies to your primary physician, hospital, and anyone likely to be involved in care decisions. Periodically review and update the documents when health or family circumstances change, and after major life events such as marriage, divorce, or a new diagnosis. Ensuring the directive reflects current wishes and complies with Tennessee legal formalities helps avoid delays and ensures that providers will accept and follow the instructions when they become necessary.
Reasons to Consider an Advance Healthcare Directive and Living Will
Having an advance healthcare directive and living will in place gives you control over medical decisions if you cannot speak for yourself. These documents allow you to express preferences about life-sustaining treatment, comfort care, and other critical issues, so medical teams and loved ones can follow directions that reflect your values. For people in Dresden and throughout Tennessee, this planning reduces stress for family members, clarifies responsibilities, and prevents the need for court intervention to appoint decision-makers, which can be time-consuming and emotionally draining.
Advance directives also facilitate communication with healthcare providers and improve the likelihood that your care will be consistent with your goals. They are an important part of a broader estate plan and coordinate with wills and financial powers of attorney to create an integrated approach to future planning. Preparing these documents proactively helps ensure your wishes are honored while preserving family relationships and financial resources. For many clients, knowing that clear guidance exists for medical decisions provides reassurance and a sense of preparedness.
Common Circumstances When Advance Directives Are Especially Valuable
Advance directives are particularly important for anyone facing serious illness, major surgery, progressive chronic conditions, or advanced age. They are useful when family members live apart or when relationships could create uncertainty about who should decide. Directives also matter when personal values point to specific treatments to accept or refuse, such as preferences regarding mechanical ventilation, feeding tubes, or resuscitation. In Dresden and Tennessee, preparing directives before a crisis occurs ensures your preferences are documented and available to guide medical teams and loved ones.
Serious or Progressive Medical Conditions
When someone has a serious or progressive medical condition, planning for potential future incapacity allows that person to shape their care. Documents created while the individual has decision-making capacity convey wishes about treatments and designate a trusted agent to act on their behalf. Early planning avoids rushed decisions during emergencies and ensures that medical providers have clear instructions. In Tennessee, having properly executed documents in place helps hospitals and long-term care facilities follow your directives without delay when they are needed most.
Upcoming Major Surgery or Medical Procedures
Undergoing major surgery or high-risk procedures is an opportune time to prepare or review advance directives. Surgery introduces the possibility of temporary or permanent incapacity, and documenting preferences ahead of time ensures medical teams and family members know how to act if complications arise. Surgeons and hospitals in Tennessee will typically look for advance directives when planning care, so having current, signed documents available can streamline post-operative decision-making and protect your wishes at critical moments.
Family Circumstances and Distance
When family members live far apart or family dynamics are complex, advance directives clarify who should speak for you and reduce confusion in urgent situations. Appointing a local agent or clearly designating an alternate can make coordination easier for medical providers and prevent delays in decision-making. For residents of Dresden and Tennessee who have relatives in other states, ensuring directives meet Tennessee standards and naming accessible contacts improves the likelihood that medical teams will be able to act quickly and in accordance with your documented preferences.
Local Legal Assistance for Dresden Residents
Jay Johnson Law Firm serves Dresden and nearby communities in Tennessee, offering practical legal help with advance healthcare directives and living wills. We provide listening sessions to understand your priorities, draft state-compliant documents, and advise on how to communicate choices to family and healthcare providers. Whether you are beginning planning for the first time or updating existing directives, our team helps ensure your wishes are clearly recorded and accessible. Contact our office to discuss a personalized approach that reflects your values and meets Tennessee legal requirements.
Why Choose Jay Johnson Law Firm for Your Healthcare Planning
Jay Johnson Law Firm provides focused, client-centered assistance for advance healthcare directives and living wills, taking time to understand your goals and explain the legal options available in Tennessee. We emphasize clear drafting that minimizes ambiguity and ensures documents meet statutory formalities. Our approach includes naming alternates, preparing accompanying instructions for family and clinicians, and advising on proper storage and distribution of documents so your wishes are available when needed. We guide clients through the entire process with practical advice and accessible communication.
Working with our firm helps you avoid common pitfalls such as vague language, improperly signed documents, or failure to update directives after major life changes. We tailor documents to reflect individual preferences and coordinate them with other estate planning tools. For Dresden residents and Tennesseans more broadly, having well-crafted directives in place makes interactions with hospitals and long-term care facilities smoother and reduces the likelihood of family disputes. Our goal is to provide documents that are reliable, understandable, and ready to be used when necessary.
We also provide guidance on practical matters like notifying physicians, storing documents where they can be found, and advising family members and appointed agents on their responsibilities. This hands-on support helps the people you trust act confidently and in accordance with your directions, reducing stress during emergencies. By preparing directives that comply with Tennessee law and aligning them with your health care goals, we help clients preserve autonomy and peace of mind for themselves and their families.
Ready to Discuss Your Advance Directives? Contact Us
How We Prepare Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
Our process begins with a conversation to identify your values, treatment preferences, and the right person to serve as your healthcare agent. We explain Tennessee’s signature and witness requirements, draft clear documents tailored to your wishes, and review the language with you and any designated agents. After execution, we advise on distribution to your physician, hospital, and family members, and recommend a schedule for review and updating. This process ensures directives are complete, compliant, and ready to guide care when they are needed.
Step One: Initial Consultation and Values Discussion
The first step is a focused meeting to discuss your healthcare goals, fears, and priorities so documents reflect what matters most to you. We walk through common medical scenarios and the implications of different choices, helping clarify preferences for life-sustaining treatment, comfort care, and resuscitation. This conversation also identifies the best person to serve as your health care agent and explores alternates. Clear documentation of these decisions reduces confusion and helps create directives tailored to your situation under Tennessee law.
Exploring Treatment Preferences and Values
During the consultation we discuss specific treatment options and how they align with your personal goals, such as preservation of life versus comfort-focused care. We use plain language to explain the practical effects of choices so you can make informed decisions. This dialogue ensures that the resulting directives express your values accurately and guide agents and medical personnel in ways that reflect your priorities, rather than relying on vague statements or assumptions when decisions become necessary.
Selecting an Agent and Alternates
Choosing the right person to act as agent involves evaluating trust, communication skills, and willingness to follow your directions. We help you identify a primary agent and one or more alternates and advise on how to communicate your wishes to them. Naming backups ensures continuity if the primary agent is unavailable, and discussing potential family dynamics ahead of time reduces the risk of disagreement. Proper designation in the directive provides legally recognized authority for those who must make decisions on your behalf.
Step Two: Drafting and Review of Documents
After deciding on key preferences and agents, we draft the advance healthcare directive and living will with precise language tailored to your needs. We ensure the documents meet Tennessee’s requirements for signatures and witnesses and incorporate contingencies and clarifications to reduce ambiguity. We then review the drafts with you and any designated agents, making adjustments as necessary to reflect your intentions. This review process ensures the final documents are clear, durable, and ready for execution and distribution.
Drafting with State Compliance in Mind
Drafting directives requires attention to statutory language and procedural requirements so that medical providers will accept the documents when called upon. We craft forms and clauses that satisfy Tennessee law while conveying your specific wishes. Clear identification of when an agent’s authority begins, detailed treatment preferences, and properly executed signatures and witnesses are all part of ensuring enforceability. Careful drafting reduces the chance that hospitals or care facilities will question the directive’s validity at critical moments.
Reviewing with Agents and Family Members
We encourage sharing and reviewing the final directives with your chosen agent and family members so everyone understands the documented wishes and practical expectations. Informing those involved alleviates uncertainty and prepares your agent to act under pressure. We provide guidance on how to have these conversations and answer questions about the directive’s scope and implementation. Clear communication ahead of time helps ensure that your directives are followed and reduces the emotional burden on loved ones during emergencies.
Step Three: Execution, Distribution, and Ongoing Review
Once the documents are finalized, they must be properly signed and witnessed or notarized according to Tennessee requirements. We assist with execution and advise on practical distribution to your physician, local hospital, and designated agents. Keeping copies accessible and informing loved ones where originals are stored ensures quick access when needed. We also recommend periodic review and updating after major life changes, new diagnoses, or changes in law so that directives remain accurate and enforceable going forward.
Proper Execution and Storage
Proper execution involves following Tennessee’s rules for signatures and witness attestations so that medical providers will accept the directive. After execution, store the original in a secure but accessible location, provide copies to your agent and physician, and consider giving a copy to the hospital where you receive care. This ensures that when decisions arise, the right documents are available. We also advise on digital copies and how to notify relevant parties of the directive’s existence and location.
Scheduling Reviews and Updates
Life circumstances and medical options change, so scheduling periodic reviews helps keep your directives current. We recommend reviewing documents after major events such as changes in health, relocation, marriage, divorce, or the death of an appointed agent. Regular updates maintain relevance and legal compliance and help ensure your documents accurately reflect your present wishes. Our office can assist with amendments or re-execution as necessary to keep your planning effective in Tennessee.
Frequently Asked Questions About Advance Directives and Living Wills
What is the difference between an advance healthcare directive and a living will?
An advance healthcare directive is a broader term that can include a living will plus the designation of a health care agent to make decisions on your behalf. The living will component typically specifies treatment preferences under circumstances such as terminal illness or permanent unconsciousness. The directive clarifies both specific treatment instructions and who should act for you when you lack capacity.Understanding the difference helps you decide whether you need one document or both. Combining a living will with a durable healthcare power of attorney ensures your wishes are both clearly stated and enforceable through a trusted agent who understands and can apply your directions to real-world medical situations.
Who should I name as my health care agent or proxy?
Choose someone you trust, who can make difficult decisions calmly, and who will follow your stated preferences even if they personally disagree. Consider availability, proximity to medical facilities, and the person’s ability to communicate with healthcare providers. Naming an alternate agent is important in case the primary agent is unavailable.Discuss your values and specific treatment preferences with your chosen agent so they understand how to act under pressure. Providing written guidance and sharing copies of your directive with the agent and family members helps ensure everyone knows where documents are stored and how to implement your wishes when necessary.
Do advance directives need to be notarized or witnessed in Tennessee?
Tennessee has specific rules regarding signatures and witnesses for advance directives. Some documents may require witness attestations or notarization to be considered valid by hospitals and long-term care facilities. Following statutory execution procedures reduces the chance a directive will be challenged or questioned when critical decisions arise.Because requirements can vary and institutions sometimes have their own practices, having documents reviewed and executed properly is advisable. We help clients complete and sign their directives in compliance with Tennessee law and advise on how to present them to healthcare providers to ensure acceptance.
Can I change my living will if my wishes change?
Yes, you can change your living will and advance healthcare directive whenever you have capacity to do so. Revisions should be made in writing and executed according to Tennessee requirements to ensure the new version replaces earlier documents. Inform your agent, family, and healthcare providers of any updates and provide them with copies of the revised directive.It is also wise to review your documents after major life events, new medical diagnoses, or changes in relationships. Periodic review ensures that the directives continue to reflect your current wishes and that they remain effective under state law and institutional practices.
Will hospitals and doctors in Tennessee follow my advance directive?
Hospitals and physicians generally follow advance directives that meet statutory requirements and are clearly presented. When directives are properly executed under Tennessee law and accessible to treating clinicians, medical teams will use them to guide care decisions. Naming a health care agent and documenting specific preferences can make adherence more straightforward for providers.If a directive is ambiguous or lacks proper execution, hospitals may seek clarification from family members or petition a court in disputed cases. Ensuring clarity, proper signatures, and communication with your healthcare providers reduces the risk of delays or challenges when directives need to be applied.
How do advance directives interact with other estate planning documents?
Advance directives complement other estate planning tools by addressing medical decision-making, while wills and financial powers of attorney cover asset distribution and financial affairs. Coordinating these documents ensures consistency and reduces the likelihood of conflicting instructions. For example, naming the same trusted person for both health and financial decisions can streamline decision-making in critical situations.It is important to review all estate planning documents together so they reflect current wishes and work in harmony. We help clients create an integrated plan that aligns medical directives with financial and testamentary arrangements, improving clarity and reducing complications for loved ones.
What should I discuss with the person I name as my agent?
Discussing your values, specific treatment preferences, and thresholds for life-sustaining interventions helps your agent make decisions that reflect your wishes. Clarify your priorities regarding comfort care, independence, quality of life, and how you weigh potential outcomes. Also discuss any religious or cultural considerations that should guide medical choices.Provide practical details such as where the directive is stored, contacts for physicians, and any known allergies or medical conditions. Preparing your agent with this information and reviewing the directive together fosters confidence and reduces stress when decisions must be made quickly.
When is the best time to create an advance directive?
The best time to create an advance directive is before a medical crisis occurs, when you have the capacity to consider options calmly and communicate your wishes clearly. Many people complete directives as part of routine estate planning or after a significant life event. Preparing documents early ensures your preferences are recorded and available whenever needed.If you face an upcoming surgery, a new diagnosis, or changes in family circumstances, those are also appropriate times to create or update directives. Early planning reduces uncertainty for loved ones and ensures medical providers have guidance on your treatment preferences when decisions arise.
Are there common mistakes to avoid when drafting these documents?
Common mistakes include vague language that leaves room for interpretation, failure to properly execute documents under state law, not naming an alternate agent, and failing to communicate the existence and location of documents to family and healthcare providers. Overlooking required witness signatures or notarization can also render directives difficult to enforce.Avoid these problems by drafting clear, specific instructions, following Tennessee execution requirements, choosing reliable agents and alternates, and distributing copies to relevant parties. Regular reviews after major life events help ensure directives remain current and effective.
How can Jay Johnson Law Firm help me create or update my directives?
Jay Johnson Law Firm assists Dresden and Tennessee residents by explaining the legal options, drafting clear and legally compliant advance directives and living wills, and guiding clients through proper execution and distribution. We help choose appropriate language, designate agents and alternates, and coordinate directives with other estate planning documents to ensure consistency and enforceability.We also advise on how to communicate your wishes to family members and healthcare providers and recommend follow-up reviews after major life changes. Our goal is to provide documents that reflect your values, meet Tennessee requirements, and are ready to guide care when needed.